Tagaytay, a popular weekend destination for Megacitizens is located two hours away from the metro. Its relatively cooler weather, themed restaurants and novelty shops, and the Taal Volcano are a few of Tagaytay's attractions.

Make sure not to show up with empty hands after vacations, as your Filipino colleagues and friends will demand "Pasalubong!" when you come back. Pasalubong is the Philippine term for souvenirs, usually edible and sweet, and it is common courtesy to get some whenever you leave the Megacity.

The annual holidays in the Philippines are a mix of various political, historical and religious celebrations and there are quite a number of them in the calendar. Here is all you should know about what you can and can not do on such holidays, and how local life is in the Megacity when the offices are closed.

Travelling in the Philippines is a delight since you will find tourist hotspots such as Boracay as well as many places rarely visited by tourists. With 7,107 islands in the tropical destination, there are lots of places to see, from the windy Batanes Islands in the very north to popular Palawan and Bohol to parts of Mindanao in the south. We compiled the most marvellous islands, exciting hiking trails, fascinating natural wonders, and cultural heritage sites of the Philippines for you.

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With 7,107 islands, the Philippines is popular among those who love the beach, the scenic countryside or tropical mountains. It is a prime destination for vacation, no matter if you look for diving, tanning, party or trekking. Tourism in the country is not as big as it used to be, though, since it is no longer an Asian hub for nightlife. However, a huge number of tourists from over the world still go to the Philippines for leisure and increasingly for its amazing natural wonders.

The historic town of Vigan is one of the best examples of a well-preserved Spanish colonial town in the Philippines, established in the 16th century. It is famous for its authentic Spanish-era homes lining the restored cobblestone streets. In December 2014, it was named as one of the New7Wonders Cities of the World.

Malacañang Palace has announced the regular and special non-working holidays this 2015. Note that the Philippines have so-called long weekends. This happens when a holiday falls on a weekend and the President deems Friday or Monday a holiday.

Hong Kong is a popular New Year's destination among Manila's Megacitizens, be it because of its beautiful fireworks display over the harbor or just to flee Manila's New Year's spectacle with its unregulated and often dangerous use of firecrackers.

As Manila is the capital of an ocean-locked country, the only way to get to other Megacities is via airplane. This is often much cheaper and easier than you might think. Regard your stay in Metro Manila as a base-camp for exploring other Megacities and Global Cities in Southeast Asia!

Our first newsletter deals with life in the Philippines between national elections and Stammtisch! Surely, a Stammtisch is a very good place to discuss politics and elections. Not so for us, as the Megacitizens in Manila discussed the more basic needs and the joy of local life.

The Kansai Airport serves the three cities Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe, which together form the Keihanshin Metropolitan Region with nearly 20 million people. The airport is the door to Japan for visitors from the Philippines, but most tourists will go straight to Kyoto: with dozens of temples, palaces and shrines, 14 of them declared as World Heritage Sites, the country´s former capital is a treasure box of Japanese culture and history.